Bulova Archive Series: Surfboard - 98A252

Product Information

This is the big selling point of the watch, at least for me, and much like the Devil Diver, the effort they put into the dial really shines through. The Surfboard is offered in a few different color variants, but mine is the navy blue and red one. One important thing that I didn’t notice and that the product photos don’t show, and that you can’t see in the store, is that in very intense sunlight, the blue and silver portions of the dial are actually sunburst. When the light catches the face just right, the blue is incredibly intense. I bought this watch thinking it was just a really dark, flat navy blue, but I’m incredibly pleased with the discovery. The design itself is pure 60s/70s. The indices are the little faceted polished rectangles you see on vintage watches, and have a tiny sliver of lume in the center, as do the hour and minute hands. Both the running seconds and the chronograph hands are unlumed. The subdials (running seconds and 60-minute counter) are located in the large silver oval that gives the Surfboard its name. A tachymeter runs around the dial above the minute indices. All of this is covered by a double domed sapphire crystal that produces virtually no distortion, even at crazy angles. Launched in 1960, the Accutron was an electronic watch that used a tuning fork to regulate time. It was far more accurate than the mechanical watches currently available. The tuning fork is the basis for the current Bulova logo. The case is barrel-shaped and has a rich blue sunburst dial. Again, the beauty is in the simplicity and functional colouring.

The only thing that bothers me a bit – polished case on sports chrono. I wonder what watch would look like with matte case instead. Well, nobody stops you from modifying your timepiece this way if you are brave enough. Bulova Surfboard – Price I’m not even American and I get swept along with Bulova’s fascinating history. I’ve seen their watches in movies. I’ve seen them recommended by soldiers. I’ve even been tempted by a watch from their Frank Sinatra line. This chunky 45mm watch is a very affordable remake. It’s significantly cheaper than Omega’s current version of their moon watch. And it’s American. Bulova’s two biggest innovations were to follow. The Accutron watch and the Lunar Pilot that I included on this list.The hour and minute hand are both wide and white, with a two-tone tip. The outer edges of the tip are bright red, while the center sports a slim lume stripe. The seconds hand is long and needle-shaped, with a bright red/orange finish that matches the red on the other hands and the subdials. That means a 40mm case - larger than a vintage piece. And rather than a mechanical movement the watch has a modern reliable Japanese quartz engine. As soon as you start shopping for a watch, everyone screams “ buy a Swiss one!”. I get it. Swiss watches are great. The applied indices give the dial a feeling of depth, and the rings on the sub-dials are applied too. The 30s saw the introduction of their popular rectangular watches. Then another world first when they ran a TV advert on the day commercial advertising was permitted.

Like the Special Edition, it’s a distinctive watch. It also successfully marries the vintage aesthetic with contemporary tastes. But if you like chunky watches, then this is an attractive piece. Obviously, the Harley branding catches the eye first, as do the overlapping sub-dials. Then you can begin to take in the details. Take Bulova. Their inspiration comes from Harley’s, Surfing, the Military and the Moon Landings. What's more American than that?

The Dial & Crystal

How about I take you through the best Chronographs that Bulova produce? It’s where they’re strongest and it’s where you’ll find their most famous watch. The moon landings are a high-point of 20th century American history so Bulova released this quartz remake of Scott’s watch. And yes, it was his original that sold for over a million!